Flying Scotsman
A herbal and bitter cocktail ∙ Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 22% ABV ∙
The Flying Scotsman is a stirred drink of blended Scotch, sweet vermouth, a little sugar syrup and Angostura bitters, served over ice in a rocks glass.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Blended Scotch whisky 50 mlRosso vermouth 45 mlSugar syrup 5 mlAngostura aromatic bitters 2 dashes
- Strain into the ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice)
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Strain over a single large cube or block of ice so the drink chills without watering down fast.
History
The Flying Scotsman is a Scotch whisky cocktail first published by Harry Craddock in The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930, credited to his tenure at the American Bar of London's Savoy Hotel. It takes its name from the Flying Scotsman, the celebrated express train service linking London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley. Some accounts describe the drink as having been served to first-class passengers in the train's own onboard cocktail bar, a feature of the service in the 1930s, though this connection is presented as tradition rather than a documented fact of the recipe's creation.
FAQ
What is a Flying Scotsman?
What is in a Flying Scotsman?
50 ml blended Scotch whisky, 45 ml rosso vermouth, 5 ml sugar syrup and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters, with an orange twist.
Is a Flying Scotsman shaken or stirred?
Stirred. There is no juice in it, so stirring chills and dilutes it while keeping it clear; a shake would cloud it with air.
What glass is a Flying Scotsman served in?
An old-fashioned glass, over a large ice cube or block, which keeps the drink cold without diluting it too quickly.
How strong is a Flying Scotsman?
About 22% ABV. The large pour of vermouth makes it gentler than an all-spirit stirred drink, but it is still one to sip.
